Australia's Secret Army Audiobook By Michael Veitch cover art

Australia's Secret Army

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection of titles.
Yours as long as you’re a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for $8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Australia's Secret Army

By: Michael Veitch
Narrated by: Michael Veitch
Try Standard free

$8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.78

Buy for $20.78

Established after World War I by the Royal Australian Navy, the Coast Watchers were a loose organisation of several hundred European settlers, missionaries, patrol officers and planters living in British and Australian Pacific Island territories whose job it was to observe and report on the enemy. They were mostly all unpaid volunteers whose job it was simply to observe and report on foreign shipping and aeroplane movements.

It was never envisaged that the Coast Watchers would do any fighting, nor operate inside enemy-occupied territory. But when World War II came to the Pacific, that is exactly what they ended up doing, becoming, in effect, Australia's secret army. Fully cognisant of their fate should they be caught, they nonetheless battled not just the enemy, but constant exhaustion, tropical disease, and the ever-present spectre of capture, torture and death.

Without the Coast Watchers and the crucial intelligence they provided, key moments in the war could have turned out very differently. This is the story of these unsung heroes who risked their lives - and sometimes lost them - in the service of their country. Australia, New Zealand & Oceania World War II Wars & Conflicts Armed Forces Military War Special & Elite Forces Oceania Air Force US Air Force

People who viewed this also viewed...

44 Days Audiobook By Michael Veitch cover art
44 Days By: Michael Veitch
All stars
Most relevant
Everything! Great history of an essential yet forgotten part of the Pacific war. Not to be missed by anyone interested in history.

Excellent untold story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
enjoyed the whole book, from background of the organization to the interaction between US military and coastwatchers, to hearing about women in war during a time when they were looked down upon as defensless.

Amazing story of men and women unlikely heroes

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A compelling narrative about an amazing effort. Beautifully written and narrated! This book is a “must read”.

A brilliant story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This was a great book with lots of interesting characters and anecdotes, telling the story of a group if very impactful people during ww2 that I had never heard of. Well written and good narration too.

Great story I wish I’d heard sooner

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.